5 Helpful Tips for Renovating With a Partner

Renovating your home is a big task to overcome on your own, not to mention the renovation stress that follows with such sudden home makeovers.

Doing it with a partner can definitely make certain things easier. One can easily survive renovating with a partner. Both can share the burden of the restoration, working as a team which can turn into a fun activity that the partners can enjoy while happily painting the walls.

However, home renovation has its own share of challenges and obstacles to overcome. It’s important that everyone happily agree with any design and financial choices, especially for spaces that you share.

So, how to survive a renovation with your partner? Following are some of the helpful tips on surviving a renovation with a partner which you can implement while redecorating your home the next time.

1. Plan the renovation together

Once you’ve decided where to renovate your home, you’ll want to figure out exactly what you want to be changed.

It’s important for you and your partner to work on planning the design together as a couple. This will allow both parties to communicate their vision effectively. By showing rather than telling, you can visually explain the look you’re going for.

Planning how you want your renovation to look can be done in a variety of ways.

For instance, you might want to flick through renovation magazines or watch renovation shows together. The internet is also your best friend when designing a renovation. You can browse the internet or create a shared Pinterest board.

This is one of the best ways to survive a renovation with your spouse – work as a team.

2. Agree on and stick to the budget

Finances can definitely be a sticky subject.

However, this makes it even more important to discuss your renovation budget openly and freely. You and your partner need to be realistic about what you can afford and what the return on your investment could be.

For instance, a larger budget for a kitchen renovation may be worthwhile because it could increase the value of your home in the long run.

In cases where one partner will be funding most or all of the renovation, make sure to put weight on what they believe the budget should be. Allowing the breadwinner to have the final say may help both parties avoid any conflicts surrounding money in the future.

However, if your relationship is based on finances being shared, sticking to this principle might make more sense for you.

3. Communicate and pick your battles

You’re bound to come across at least a couple disagreement along the renovation journey.

The only way to survive renovating with a partner is to make sure you stay reasonable and explain your reasonings whilst hearing out your partner’s. It’s crucial that both you and your partner aim to be compassionate and empathetic.

Sometimes, you’ll be able to find a middle ground when it comes to disagreements.

However, there will be cases where finding a middle ground isn’t possible. For instance, if you want white walls and your partner wants black walls, it doesn’t make sense to go for grey. Make sure you know what features are important to you and what features are important to your partner. Pick your battles carefully, you won’t always get your way.

4. Decision making doesn’t have to be 50-50

Similarly to making a budget, decision making when it comes to your renovation design doesn’t have to be 50-50. This might be slightly controversial, especially if you’re accustomed to decisions being mutual.

However, sometimes a 51-49 split can make the process easier, especially when there needs to be a strong decision maker to make the final choice.

A 51-49 split is particularly helpful when one partner is more invested in the renovation than the other. For instance, if you’re working with the builders, buying supplies, etc., it would be unfair to you if your partner had the final say in all the decisions, even if they’re funding the renovation.

As long as you stay within budget, it might make things easier for you to have the final say in decision making.

5. Maintain the other aspects of your relationship

Couples tend to forget about maintaining the other parts of their relationship during the renovation process. Each partner, undoubtedly, has a range of different personal stresses and renovation stress only makes things more difficult.

In order to survive renovating with a partner is to make sure both of you have time to wind down alone and together.

Renovating shouldn’t mean giving up other aspects of your relationship.

For instance, take the time to go out on dates together or to cook dinner together. Keep the intimacy alive and don’t be afraid to let loose with a couple of drinks together every now and then.

A tense relationship won’t do anything good for your home renovation.

It is not that difficult to survive renovating with a partner once you learn the tricks about how to work together as a couple and agree on matters where decisions have to be taken by either one of you.

The mentioned five tips are quite helpful if you need advice on how to survive renovating with a partner.

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James Pointon

James Pointon is a Commercial Manager at OpenAgent.com.au, an online agent comparison website helping Australians to sell, buy and own property